Ore concentrator



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1951 FIG.I

INVENTOR. WAYNE l. NOBLE BY I ATT'YS March 16, 1954 w. NOBLE ORE CONCENTRATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1951 INVENTOR. WAYNE l. NOBLE 2 BY y m-nr ATT'YS Patented Mar. 16, 1954 UNITED STATEt'i FATENT OFFICE ORE CONCENTRATOR Wayne I. Noble, Denver, Colo.

Application May 19, 1951, :Serial:No. 227,145

2 t'Jlaims. 1

This invention relates to mechanisms for concentration or dressing of ores of the type in which crushed rock or earthy materials are agitated so as to concentrate the metallic ingredients and rich mixtures of metal and other ingredients in a portion of the container where they are readily separable from waste materials.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved Valve structure for holding back the undesirable materials while dumping the concentrated metal containing mass; to provide improved means for adjusting the position of such valve structure so as to adapt the container readily to eiiicient use in connection with various particular compositions of the crude mass of material to be handled; and to provide improved means for dumping the materials from the two compartments of the container in separate places.

A specific embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side View, partly in section and partly schematic, of a mineral concentrator constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail of the same showing the manner in which the plates that constitute the bottom closure of the container are swung down for dumping the contents of the lower compartment.

Fig. 3 is a similar fragmentary section of the parts shown in Fig. 2, as viewed from the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line -i--4 of Fig. 1 showing the valve parts in their open position.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the valve parts in their closed position.

Fig. 6 is a developed section taken on the curved line 6li of Fig. 4 showing the relation of the valve plates to each other in their open positions.

Fig. '7 is a similar section taken on the line 'l----? of Fig. 5 showing the closed positions of the parts.

In the form shown in the drawings, the mineral concentrator comprises an upright cylindrical container 10 open at both ends and subdivided into a large upper chamber ii and a relatively small lower chamber E? by means of a valve structure l3 that extends horizontally across the interior of the container it and is adjustable vertically to vary the relative proportions of the chambers H and i2. The bottom closure is preferably of downwardly convex, dished formation and; comprises a pair of plates i i of semi-circular contour, abutting each other along the diameter representedby the line .3-,.3 .ofiFig. 1:;and.;con-:

'2 tacting marginally with the bottom rim of .-the container Ill.

These plates I i are separately hinged on a pair of parallel shafts l5 journaled in bearings I6 mounted on the bottom rim ll of the container I0. Each of the plates It has a pair of hinge arms H3 that are fast on the respective shafts l5 and have intermeshing gear teeth that cause the plates It to swing in unison in opposite directions between open and closed positions through the turning of one of the shafts I5, which latter shaft has a leverarm l9 at one endgpositioned so as to engage a stationary abutment 20 when the receptacle I has been shifted .sidewise to a position where the contents of itscompartment 12 are to be dumped. This abutment 20 is indicated in Fig. 2 in its relation to the lever 1.9 during the dumping operation.

As is usual in devices of this kind, means .such as the paddles 2! and 22 are providedforstirring and agitating the mass of the contents of the receptacle 50 in a systematic manner so asto cause the metallic and metal containing parts of the ingredients to settle toward the bottom of the receptacle while the lighter particles are lifted, by action of the paddles and floatation, to the upper compartment of the receptacle [0.

The valve structure it comprises a main non-- rotatable plate 23 having a circular rim portion 24 that has loose sliding contact with thewalls of the container [9 and is rigidly afiixed to an annular series of vertical posts 25 which are shiftable vertically so as to raise and lower thestructure I3 to increase or decrease the relative capacity of the compartment l2 With'respect to the compartment II.

The valve plate 23 comprises a plurality of sector-shaped radial vanes '26 separated by wider spaces 21 through which spaces the ore may pass from compartment H to compartment when the valve is open. Cooperating with the-platei23 is an upper valve plate 28 and alower valve plate 29 comprising vanes and spaces correspondingdn angular width to those of the fixed plate 23.

The plates 28 and it are shiitabie iii-opposite directions so as to cooperate in fan fashion :with the plate .23 for opening and closing :the spaces 2?, as will be understood from-Figs. .4, 5, (Sand-7. With these plates, as shown, the vanes in their .open position occupy only one-thirdof the trans- =mum zciamotionaoif Lthe :cranksil In the form shown, the posts 25 are threaded in nuts 30 that are journalled in bearing apertures in the rim I? and shouldered to secure them against vertical movement with respect to the rim [1. Each nut 35] has fast thereon, below the rim H, a gear 3| by means of which the nut 30 is rotated. The posts 25 are secured against rotation in the rim 24, so that simultaneous rotation of the nuts 30, as by means of a ring gear 32 meshing with the gears 3!, will raise and lower the valve structure as a unit. The lower ends of the posts 25 may have bolt heads 33 to limit the upward movement of the valve structure. As indicated in Fig. 1, the ring gear 32 may be driven by a beveled gear 34 rotated by hand crank 35.

Rotation of the paddles 2| and 22 and that of the movable valve plates is accomplished in the device shown by means of a central shaft 35 and a plurality Of concentric quill shafts or sleeves 37, 38 and 39 journalled in bearings 40 and 4! along the vertical axis of the receptacle Ill. The shaft 36 and the sleeve 39 that drive the paddles 2i and 22 are power driven, as represented schematically by the motor 52, gears 43 and chain belts M and at.

The upper valve plate 28 is rotated by means of a flanged hub 58 attached to the plate 23 and splined to its respective shaft 38 so as to be rotated by that shaft 38 but vertically slidable along it. Similarly, the lower valve plate 2:! is fast on a flanged hub d? that is splined to the inner quill shaft 3'3. The quill shafts 31 and 38 are rotated by beveled gears and as respectively which in turn are driven by a beveled pinion 50 rotatable by hand by a crank 55. The shaft 35 and the quill shafts 3'1, 38' and 39 are, of course, appropriately held against relative axial shifting.

The operation of the device shown is as follows:

In general, the concentrator operates according to usual practices in which a mass of finely ground ore, together with water or other suitable liquid, is dumped into the container It! and stirred and agitated for a period of time found to be necessary to cause the metal ingredients and a minimum of other earthy materials to accumulate in the bottom chamber l2 of the receptacle, while the waste materials, which are lighter than the metal-containing particles, drift upward in the semiliquid mass and occupy the upper chamber H.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide for separating the metal-bearing contents from the great mass of other material by the use of a valve-like partition that holds back the other material while the metal-containing portion of the mass is withdrawn at the bottom of the container and to have the valve means adjustable vertically within the container so that this separation will conform as closely as possible to the relative proportions of these two masses after the mineral concentration has been effected according to the nature of the materials handled.

The valve plates are in the open position during the operation of concentrating the metalcontaining mass into the lower chamber l2. When in the judgment of the operator, the separation of the mineral contents from the main bulk of the mass has been accomplished, he turns the crank causing the valve to close. In this operation, the beveled gear 58 causes the gears 48 and as to rotate in opposite directions and through their shafts 31 and 3:; respectively cause the plates 29 and 28 to rotate in opposite directions from a position of registration with the fixed plate 23, until the advancing edges of the plates 28 and 29 reach the limit of their closing movements, with all of the valve segments of the plates meeting edge-to-edge in slightly overlapping relation, as indicated in Fi '7.

The movable valve plates are limited in their opening and closing movements by suitable stops which may take the form of abutments on the fixed plate 23, as represented, for example, by pins 52 and 53, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, which limit the movement of the upper valve plate 28 in its open and closed positions respectively.

So long as the percentage of metallic ingredients in the ore mass remains roughly constant, the vertical adjustment of the valve plates need not be disturbed after the best posiiton thereof has once been determined.

When it is desired to shift the position of the valve plates to change the relative capacity of the chambers H and I2 of the container, the operator rotates the crank 35 causing the beveled gear 36 to rotate the ring gear 32 which, in turn, rotates the gears 3| and nuts 39, causing the posts 25 to raise or lower the fixed valve plate 23, carrying with it the rotatable valve plates 28 and 29. This is accomplished without disturbing the axial relation of the shafts 36 to 39 inclusive, due to the splined connection between the hubs of the movable valve plates and their respective shafts.

After the valve has been closed, upon the completion of the separating or dressing operation, the container H1 is shifted sidewise until the lever i9 strikes an abutment 20, causing the bottom closur plates M of the compartment 12 to swing to their depending positions through the interaction of the gear teeth on their arm l8, causing the contents thereof to be discharged into an appropriate bin that is not shown. Continued movement of the receptacle Ill may carry it to a suitable dump where, upon opening of the valve by rotation of the crank 5|, the contents of the chamber II will be discharged.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the structure shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. In a mineral concentrator, comprising a cylindrical ore dressing receptacle having a discharge closure at the bottom end thereof, a valve spaced upward from said closure and extending across the interior of said receptacle to divide the same into upper and lower chambers, said valve comprising a main plate and a pair of relatively rotatable plates slidably mounted one upon another in laminar arrangement, said plates having circular rims and being similarly shaped to provide radiating sector-shaped vanes alternating with sector-shaped openings approximating twice the angular width of the vanes, means operatively connected to said rotatable plates for simultaneously rotating them in opposite directions between positions where their vanes register with the vanes of said main plate andpositions where the vanes of one of said rotatable plates coact with those of the other for opening and closing said openings, and means connecting said valve to said receptacle for raising and lowering said valve within said receptacle to change th relative capacities of said chambers.

2. In a mineral concentrator, comprising a cylindrical ore dressing receptacle having stirring devices therein and having a discharge closure at the bottom end thereof, a valve spaced upward from said closure and extending across the interior of said receptacle to divide the same into upper and lower chambers, said valve comprising a main plate and a pair of relatively rotatable plates mounted one upon another, said plates having circular rims and being similarly shaped to provid radiating sector-shaped vanes alternating with sector-shaped openings approximating twice the angular width of the vanes, means for simultaneously rotating said movable plates in opposite directions between positions where their vanes register with the vanes of said main plate and positions where their vanes coact for opening and closing said openings, and 20 means for raising and lowering said valve within said receptacle to change the relative capacities of said chambers, said last-named means comprising a plurality of posts attached to the rim of said main plate and extending below the bottom of said receptacle, and means for simultaneously raising and lowering said posts.

WAYNE I. NOBLE.

Number Name Date 8,653 Plumb Apr. 1, 1879 578,206 Buneau Mar. 2, 1897 587,630 Wynne Aug. 3, 1897 824,520 Abbe June 26, 1906 934,441 Hitchcock Sept. 21, 1909 1,559,937 Chance Nov. 3, 1925 1,596,392 Blatch Aug. 17, 1926 1,677,015 Benton July 10, 1928 1,758,756 Morgan May 13, 1930 1,966,609 Chance July 17, 1934 2,125,663 Wuensch Aug. 2, 1938 2,216,050 Romberg Sept. 24, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,386 Great Britain 1897 269,017 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1927 

